Bajrang Punia and Ravi Dahiya, esteemed medalists from the Tokyo Olympics, have faced unexpected setbacks in their quest to participate in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. During the trials organized by the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) to finalize the Indian squad for the Olympic Qualifiers, both athletes encountered challenges that have ruled them out of contention for the upcoming event.
Bajrang Punia, who secured a bronze medal in Tokyo, found himself defeated by Rohit Kumar in the men's freestyle 65kg category during the trials held at the Sports Authority of India (SAI) center. Similarly, Ravi Kumar Dahiya, the silver medalist from Tokyo, suffered an 8-10 loss to Udit from Haryana in the 57kg category.
These results signify a significant shift in the lineup for the Indian wrestling squad at the Paris Olympic Qualifiers. Wrestlers who emerged victorious in the trials will now have the opportunity to represent India and strive for success on the international stage.
